Firedoor assemblies



July 8, 1969 p. w. WEBER ETAL 3,453,776

IFIREDOOR ASSEMBLIES Filed Sept. 26, 1967 MflA/F/affi J wmm I F/FEU CLARKE W\\/ O INVENTORS .H 8 B Maw/M m ATTORNEY P. W. WEBER ET AL Sheet Filed Sept. 26, 1967 gig July 8, 1969 P.W. WEBER ET AL- 3,453,776

FIREDOOR ASSEMBLIES Filed Sept. 26. 1967 Sheet 3 013 United States Patent Otfice 3,453,776 Patented July 8, 1969 3,453,776 FIREDOOR ASSEMBLIES Paul W. Weber, Ridgefield, and Manfred J. Weber, Newtown, -Conn., and James F. Clarke, Carmel, N.Y., as-

signors to Construction Products Co., Inc., Brookfield,

Conn, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 670,596 Int. 'Cl. E05f 15/20; E05b 15/10 US. Cl. 49-7 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vertically compact, horizontally rolling movable horizontal firedoor adapted to close automatically with strong positive actuation to seal the lower end of a vertical linen or rubbish chute in the event of fire, and incorporating adjustable jamming frictional engagement of the door with its track in its closed position, sealing the lower end of the chute against ventilation throughout the fire emergency, with automatic latching of the door in its sealed position until it is manually opened and re-set.

Background of the invention For quick delivery of linen from upper floors of hotels, hospitals and other institutions to basement laundry rooms and for quick delivery of trash, garbage and rubbish to rubbish compacting rooms, incinerator rooms or trash rooms in the basements of multiple-story buildings, vertical delivery chutes having access doors conveniently located on each floor of the building are widely used and recommended by architects.

In order to assure that the chimney-efllect of such a vertical chute is automatically eliminated during any fire emergency at the lower end of the chute, automatic, heatactuated self-closing firedoors of various kinds have been proposed in the past. Most of these self-closing firedoors for linen and rubbish chutes have been hinged, swinging doors pivoted about a horizontal hinge axis and designed to be held in an upper open position by a fusible link, and to be closed in the event of fire by powerful springs swinging the doors through a sector of at least 90 of revolution about their hinge axes to closed, vertical positions sealing vertical discharge ports in the lower slanted end of each chute.

Other types of horizontally disposed fire doors, designed to move sideways from a retracted position to a blocking position closing the lower end of the chute, have been mounted to move on inclined plane ramps or tracks. In such inclined ramp assemblies, the vertical height required to accommodate the sloping ramp limits the standing headroom beneath the chute. Also, while descending the ramp, such inclined plane firedoors are carried downward away from the lower end of the chute, making jamming or sealing engagement therewith practically impossible.

To avoid urban air pollution caused by numerous incinerators, compacting devices for compressing and baling trash and garbage are coming into increasing use, and are required by law in some cities. These compacting machines are preferably positioned directly beneath the lower end of a vertical delivery chute having access doors on each floor of a hospital or apartment building. Conventional swinging firedoors and inclined plane firedoors are not suitable for use with compacting machines since they occupy more vertical height between the ceiling and the upper loading end of the machine than builders and architects normally find it economical to provide.

Conventional door-closing mechanisms such as the cords and counterweights with fusible cord links of US. Patents 386,042 and 538,026, and the electrically actuated, spring-lever parallelogram linkage with vacuum dashpot retarder of US. Patent 2,573,160 are awkward, expensive and not compact enough for installation directly under the ceiling at the lower discharge end of a vertical delivery chute.

Summary of the invention The horizontally movable firedoors of the present invention are mounted on rollers supported in a horizontal track, compactly mounted flush under the ceiling of the basement room into which a vertical linen or rubbish chute opens. The vertical height of the firedoor assemblies of this invention is severely minimized, making them unusually well adapted for ceiling installation above trash compacting and baling machines in low-ceiling basement utility rooms below multiple story buildings.

When retracted, the firedoors of this invention are held open by a fusible link, cocking powerful tension coiled springs in extended position ready to close the firedoor if the ambient temperature rises sufiiciently to melt the fusible link. The firedoors of this invention are further provided with latching devices positioned to lock them in their closed and sealed condition until they are manually opened and reset after the fire emergency is over.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide firedoor assemblies incorporating horizontally movable firedoors compactly installed directly under the ceiling of a utility room positioned at the lower end of a vertical linen or rubbish chute.

A further object of the invention is to provide assemblies in which such firedoors are capable of movement along a horizontal track, directly under the ceiling, from a retracted position to a sealing position.

Another object of the invention is to provide such firedoors incorporating adjustable wedging ramps capable of jamming the door in its sealed position tightly against the lower end of the vertical chute.

A further object of the invention is to provide such firedoors incorporating a low rolling friction door-supporting sub-assembly.

Another object is to provide such firedoor assemblies incorporating automatic latching means securing the door in its sealed position until it is manually reset.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the features, elements, combinations and operating procedures disclosed in the following detailed description and shown in the drawings.

The drawings FIGURE 1 is a cut-away perspective view of a horizontally movable firedoor and supporting track assembly incorporating the features of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional end elevation view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 3 and 4 are cut-away sectional side elevation views of the same assembly, respectively showing the firedoor in its retracted position and in its closed chute-sealing position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing the structural details of the rear corner of a firedoor of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the structural features shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the featurgs shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, partially in section, an

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary and elevation view of the structural features shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7.

Description of the invention The firedoors of the present invention are preferably formed as monolithic slabs of fireproof material secured between upper and lower panels of sheet metal having their edges joined to form the ends and sides of the door. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 2, firedoor comprises a slab 11 of such fireproof material enclosed between a top panel 12 and a bottom panel 13 of sheet metal having their edges bent at right angles to form overlapping flanges, joined to form the ends and sides of the door and anchored together by any suitable means, such as tack welds, rivets or the like.

Rolled steel angle sections 14 preferably extend along each side of the firedoor 10, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 5. The angle sections 14 are incorporated inside the sheet metal casing formed by the panels 12 and 13 and their flange edges, and these angles may be welded in place to form a unitary structure. Mounted in tapped holes in the vertical flanges of angles 14, near the corners of the firedoor 10, are the threaded shafts of four hardened, ball 'bearing roller skate wheels 16, as shown in FIGURE 5.

Each skate wheel 16 is positioned to rest on a horizontal supporting track 18, forming a part of a track assembly 19 including an upper angle section 21 and a lower angle section 23, securely welded together to form a rigid unitary structure supporting skate wheel 16 at each side of the firedoor 10 for rolling horizontal movement of the door from its retracted position beside the lower end of the chute 22 towards its closed or sealed position, jammed against the lower open end of the chute 22 as more fully described below.

A handle extends downwardly from the underside of firedoor 10, to be used for manual opening and closing of the firedoor.

As shown in the drawings, the track assembly 19 supporting the skate wheels 16 of the edgewise movable firedoor 10 is preferably installed directly beneath the ceiling of a basement room into which the chute opens. A prerferred form of track configuration is shown in an enlarged cross section in FIGURE 2, incorporating the upper angle section 21 welded to the overlapping angle section 23 which has its opposite flange welded or bolted to an elongated flat plate 24 whose upper section forms the wheel supporting track 18 of the assembly. The plate 24 is preferably formed of flat bar stock having a sectional thickness comparable to those of the angle sections 21 and 23. As shown in FIGURE 2, angle section 21 is oriented with one flange overlying the skate wheels 16, and with its other flange extending downwardly flanking the skate wheels 16 and overlapping one flange of the angle section 23 thereof. The other flange of angle 23 preferably overlies the outer edge of the bar plate 24, to which it is secured by rivets, bolts, welding or the like, leaving the inner portion of plate 24 extending inwardly toward the chute opening to form track 18 underlying the skate wheels 16, supporting firedoor 10. As indicated by dash lines in FIGURE 1, rolled steel angle section end members 26 are corner welded to the end of the upper angle sections 21, forming a closed rectangular frame 21-26 within which firedoor 10 is supported for edgewise rolling movement from one end to the other, with its skate wheels 16 rolling on bar plates 24. A central bridging angle section 26 spans the center of the rectangular frame 21-26, between angle sections 21, serving to stiffen the structure. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, when the firedoor 10 is in its retracted position it is held at the right end of the track assembly by a fusible link 27, with its forward edge clear of the lower end of chute 22 for free passage of linen or rubbish descending through chute 22 into the room below. One end of link 27 is screwed or bolted to the underside of firedoor 10 near its leading edge, while the other end of link 27 is anchored by a rivet or a bolt to a strap whose opposite end is bolted to the frame 2126, or detachably hooked thereto if desired.

In its closed position, as shown in FIGURE 4, firedoor 10 has moved edgewise along the full length of the bar plate 24 to the opposite end of the rectangular frame where it underlies and completely closes the lower end of chute 22.

While the firedoor assemblies of this invention incorporate horizontal, edgewise-moving doors comparable to the burglar-proof bank vault door disclosed in US. Patent 1,632,536, the door of that intricate device lacks the multiple-wheel rolling support, the fireproof slab, the heat-responsive fusible link, the frictional closing engagement, and other features of the present invention herein described.

Frictional closing engagement Positioned on the top surface of bar plates 24 at the terminal positions of each skate wheel 16 in the closed position of firedoor 10 are ramps 28 formed of thin flexible steel -strip. Ramps 28 preferably are formed with a flat entry portion overlying and welded to bar plate 24 and having a beveled leading edge 29, and an upsloping inclined grade portion 30 formed by bending their opposite ends through an angle of 5 to 20 relative to the entry portion, thus extending diagonally upward in the direction of the overlying flange of the angle sections 21 of the track assembly. The inclined portions 30 of ramps 28 form flexible, resilient leaf springs up which skate wheels 16 roll as firedoor 10 approaches its closed position at the left end of the track assembly as shown in FIGURE 4. These flexible leaf springs 28 thus resiliently bias firedoor 10 against the underside of the overlying angle sections 21, 26 and 26, urging firedoor 10 into frictional engagement therewith for substantially airtight sealing of the lower end of chute 22. If desired, set screws 31 installed in suitable threaded holes tapped through bar plate 24 toward the undersides of the free diagonal ends 30 of ramps 28 may be employed to provide solid underlying support for these free ends 30, thus minimizing their range of resilient deformation and adjusting with precision the longitudinal position at which firedoor 10 is cammed by ramps 38 into jamming frictional engagement sealing the lower end of chute 22. As shown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4, a total of four ramps 28 are preferably employed with one ramp 28 underlying the terminal position of each skate wheel 16. If firedoor 10 is sup ported by additional skate wheels, similar adjustable ramps 28 may be installed underlying the terminal positions thereof if desired.

Closing mechanism Powerful closing force driving firedoor 10 from its retracted position at the right end of its track as shown in FIGURE 3, toward its closed position at the left end of its track as shown in FIGURE 4, is provided by heavy tension coil springs 32, preferably formed of spring steel, having their forward ends respectively anchored at the outer corners of the chute end of the rectangular frame 21-26 by such means as anchor posts 33, with the opposite ends of coil springs 32 being secured to an outwardly protruding arm 34 anchored as by welding to the rearwardly extending angle section 14 at the rear corners of firedoor 10, as shown in FIGURES 5-8.

As shown in FIGURE 8, arm 34 is preferably formed of flat steel bar stock having an outwardly extending section 36 supporting an anchor post to which the rear end of the spring 32 is secured, with section 36 being joined by an intermediate vertical section 37 welded to the inwardly extending flange of the angle 14. Vertically extending section 37 of arm 34 is dimensioned to clear the stationary parts of the track assembly during edgewise movement of the firedoor 10 between its two terminal positions, without extending downwardly more than a few inches as indicated in FIGURES 2, 5 and 6.

Door-scaling latch mechanism If desired, a hinged latch plate 38 shown in FIGURES 5 through 8 may be mounted depending diagonally rearward from the underside of rearwardly extending angle 14 beneath the rear corners of firedoor in pivotal hinged relationship therewith beside the rear skate wheel 16. In this position the latch plate 38 will depend beside the inwardly extending edge of the bar plate 24 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 8; if desired the tip of latch plate 38 may rest on the outwardly extending section 36 of arm 34, or the latch plate 38 may depend to the rear of arm 34 if preferred. An upwardly concave latch pocket 39 is formed by a short rolled steel angle section positioned as an upward opening V with its flange edges welded centrally to the underside of bar plate 24, and having a free end projecting inwardly toward the firedoor 10, at a position about half-way along the underside of bar plate 24 selected for engagement with latch plate 38 when firedoor 10 reaches its closed and sealed position shown in FIG- URE 4. In this position, as shown in FIGURE 4 and in the enlarged view of FIGURE 6, latch plate 38 pivoting about its hinge beneath rearwardly protruding angle 14 drops into the concave V of latch pocket 39. In this latched postion, the end of latch arm 38 abuts the rear flange of the latch pocket 39, blocking the retracting movement of firedoor 10 away from the underside of chute 22.

Manual resetting of the firedoor When the fire emergency is over, the firedoor 10 may be manually reset to its retracted position shown in FIG- URE 3 by manual lifting of latch arms 38 to release them from the latch pockets 39, freeing the firedoor to be manually pushed out of its frictional jammed engagement between ramps 28 and the underside of angles 21 of its track assemblies. By stretching the springs 32, the firedoor 10 may then be rolled manually to its retracted position shown in FIGURE 3, where it may be secured by a new fusible link 27 in readiness for any future fire emergencies.

If the strap is provided at its rear end with a detachable hook (not shown) engageable with the rear end of rectangular frame 21-26, this hook may be disengaged at any time to close firedoor 10 for maintenance purposes, such as the installation of a new fusible link 27. This feature is useful in installations combining garbage and rubbish compacting machines positioned beneath vertical rubbish chutes. By closing firedoor 10, all baling cavities of multiple-cavity compacting machines can be emptied, while any trash descending chute 22 is blocked by firedoor 10 until the compacting machine is again ready for operation. Handle 20 on the underside of firedoor 10 is useful for this purpose.

While the objects of the invention are efficiently achieved by the preferred forms of the invention described in the foregoing specification, the invention also includes changes and variations falling within and between the definitions of the following claims.

We claim:

1. An automatic heat-responsive firedoor assembly in combination with a substantially vertical delivery chute whose lower end forms the opening through the ceiling of a utility room to be closed by the firedoor, wherein the firedoor is horizontally supported for horizontal, edgewise movement by low friction wheels on two parallel track members mounted directly beneath the ceiling of the utility room flanking the closed position and the retracted position of the firedoor, for movement of the firedoor between a closed position blocking the opening and a retracted position clear of the opening, characterized by the combination of an elongated flange on each of said tracks supporting the wheels, said tracks being further provided with ramp camming surfaces positioned to displace said wheels from their normal paths of rolling movement, resulting in wedging frictional engagement of the firedoor in its closed position, a heat-responsive securing device connected to hold the firedoor in its retracted position and to release the firedoor when the ambient temperature rises above a predetermined safe upper limit, said heat-responsive securing device comprising a strap anchored to the remote end of the track and connected to the firedoor near'the opening by a heat-fusible link, an elongated resilient tension spring means having ends respectively anchored to the end of the track near the opening and to the remote edge of the firedoor, with the spring means being in resiliently-deformed tensile extension when the firedoor is in its retracted position, and a latch operating between said firedoor and at least one of said tracks for automatically latching the firedoor in its closed position.

2. The firedoor assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said ramp camming surfaces are formed of resilient flat strips each having one end anchored to one of said tracks and the other end diagonally extending toward the openmg.

3. The firedoor assembly defined in claim 2, further comprising screws threaded in said tracks for positioning said diagonally extending end of each resilient strip toward and away from the opening.

4. The firedoor assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said latch comprises a latching pocket in at least one of said tracks.

5. The firedoor assembly defined in claim 4, wherein said latch further comprises a diagonally rearwardly extending plate pivotally depending from hinge means mounted on the firedoor.

6. The firedoor assembly defined in claim 1, wherein said strap is detachably anchored to said tracks, permitting manual closing of the firedoor by :an operator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 525,333 9/1894 Christian 49-7 997,481 7/ 1911 Walker 49-7 1,913,725 6/1933 Schweig 49-7 1,921,193 8/1933 Kelly -209 2,189,019 2/ 1940 Rowe 160-209 2,672,656 3/ 1954 Lorenz 49-209 3,189,142 6/1965 Carlson 49-7 3,196,933 7/1965 Schneider 160-207 3,342,245 9/ 1967 Caillet 160-202 X FOREIGN PATENTS 983,562 2/ 1965 Great Britain.

1,240,020 7/ 1960 France.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 49-209 

